Heading into 2019, there are some questions that have been raised about this year’s club. Will Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have similar production to last season? Who is going to be the closer? Will Eduardo Rodriguez develop another pitch for the season? But NOBODY is mentioning how essential Chris Sale staying healthy is to having any chance of repeating.

Sale Has Been Working On His Body

The negative connotation that comes with Chris Sale is that he is not durable. In his two seasons with Boston, he has either been injured at some point or shows obvious signs of shoulder fatigue. But, this season looks like it will be different.

Sale is putting in the work necessary to change his past habits. He wants to be healthy for a full season and he is putting in the work to do so. Plus, when you are 6’6 and 180 pounds; it wouldn’t hurt to put on a few pounds and build up your shoulder stamina.

Sale Is One Of The Best Pitchers In Baseball When Healthy

Since he became a starting pitcher in 2012, Chris Sale has made at least 30 starts in four of those seasons (one season he had 29) and has shown his dominance. He has been an American League All-Star in every season that he has been a starting pitcher. He has had an ERA under 3.00 in three of those seasons. Not to mention, he has one of the best sliders in the game.

thoughts and prayers to the poor souls who tried to hit Chris Sale’s slider in 2018. you will be missed. pic.twitter.com/6fIUkbHZ5P

I mean, look at some of the swings and misses on that slider! Sale has proven he is one of the games best starters. The Red Sox might want to start looking into his contract situation very soon.

In Conclusion

Sale is going to be a huge piece for the Red Sox in 2019. He will expected to continue to go deep into baseball games. He will also be expected to stay healthy for the whole season, not two-thirds of the season, not three-quarters of the season; but the whole season. That is a very fair expectation for the left-handed starting pitcher. Get me to March 28th to watch Chris Sale punch out at least 10 Seattle Mariner hitters!